UN Development Agency to Train Governments in Blockchain in 2026

The Academy aims to bridge the gap between theoretical education and real‐world implementation in government, by training public sector actors and providing them with the tools to address pressing development challenges. According to the announcement, the first country programmes will begin in 2026, with foundational work such as curriculum design and stakeholder consultation taking place during 2025.

The initiative is structured around five key thematic pillars, each chosen for its potential to deliver measurable public value. The first focus is on inclusive digital finance, where secure, digital payment systems are expected to improve access to financial services for underbanked communities. The second is transparent governance, leveraging tamper-resistant recordkeeping and digital transactions to strengthen integrity, reduce corruption, and boost trust in public institutions. Supply chain integrity forms the third area, where decentralised verification systems could be applied to public procurement, logistics, and traceability.

Climate resilience is the fourth focus, with smart contracts and digital tokens enabling transparent climate financing and tracking of carbon credit flows. Finally, the Academy will work on digital identity solutions, creating trusted and verifiable credentials for individuals that can support access to public services. These pillars were chosen not only because blockchains are suited to problems such as immutability and decentralized trust, but also because they align with global development priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

What distinguishes the Academy is its commitment to combine education with hands-on implementation. The plan includes in-person workshops, online modules, and leadership forums tailored to governments’ local needs. Technical support will be offered for government teams, helping them identify use cases, co-design projects, and deploy solutions. Collaboration with subject-matter experts is also central, with incubation, advisory, and customised resources available to participants.

In addition, the Academy is set to operate as a global hub for knowledge sharing, experimentation, and policy dialogue. This function is intended to ensure that digital inclusion, sovereignty, and security remain at the heart of public sector adoption efforts, making the initiative not only a training platform but also a space for governments to exchange best practices and build long-term capacity.

Preparatory work will continue throughout 2025, during which time curricula will be drafted, stakeholders engaged, and frameworks shaped. The first country-level programmes are planned to begin in 2026. The formal public announcement of the Academy will be made during the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore on 1–2 October 2025, where an industry roundtable will bring together protocol developers, infrastructure providers, and decision-makers to discuss the project’s next steps.

The initiative holds considerable promise. Governments that participate could see improvements in financial inclusion, especially for underserved populations, by using secure digital payment systems alongside verifiable digital identity. Public institutions may also strengthen governance and anti-corruption efforts through tamper-resistant recordkeeping and transparent procurement processes.

Climate finance stands to benefit from greater transparency, especially in tracking carbon credits, which has often been hindered by opacity and double-counting. In addition, supply chains for essential public goods, from medicine to infrastructure materials, may become more trustworthy and efficient with blockchain-based traceability.

Despite its potential, the project faces risks and challenges. Governments will need to build or source technical expertise in blockchain, cryptography, and digital identity to ensure successful rollouts. Regulatory and legal frameworks also require careful attention, as questions of data privacy, digital rights, cross-border data flows, and liability for smart contracts remain unresolved in many jurisdictions.

Inclusivity is another concern, since populations without digital access or literacy could be excluded if solutions are not designed with equity in mind. Security risks, ranging from hacking to misconfiguration or misuse of systems, must also be addressed through resilient design and oversight to safeguard both institutions and citizens.

The Government Blockchain Academy fits within a broader global movement to reposition blockchain beyond its reputation as a speculative financial instrument. Institutions such as the UNDP are increasingly looking for ways to apply emerging technologies to social, environmental, and governance goals. This Academy is notable for offering not just education but a clear path to deployment, with built-in stakeholder engagement to ensure solutions are tailored and effective.

It also reflects shifting priorities for states, where the question is no longer whether to adopt frontier technologies, but how to do so responsibly, equitably, and with a view to long-term resilience. By focusing on governance and inclusion, the Academy positions itself as a model for integrating digital innovation into public policy in a sustainable way.

The partnership between UNDP and the Exponential Science Foundation represents a potentially important step in equipping governments to use blockchain in service of the public good. If implemented with care and inclusion, the Academy could transform essential state functions, finance, identity, procurement, and climate policy to better serve citizens. As programmes begin in 2026, attention will turn to which governments participate, what solutions they pursue, and what real-world outcomes they achieve. These lessons will be critical in shaping the next generation of public sector innovation.